Are You a "Fat Talker?"

Are You a "Fat Talker?"

Do you constantly talk about how bad you feel about your body? Then you may be a fat talker...New research is coming out that when put in a group with other women, women will almost always revert to talking negatively about their own body image. This is being called fat talking. In turn, fat talking leaves women, who actually feel positively about their bodies, silent or they will engage in fat talk for fear of social rejection. This constant bombardment of negative body issues is just not healthy for a society trying to battle many health issues like eating disorders and obesity.

“In general, we find that women in the United States, particularly Caucasian women, feel poorly about their bodies. Women also believe there is pressure to fat talk, and that other women do it because they feel poorly about their bodies. We never break out of that cycle. If there are women who have a positive body image, they never step up and vocalize that, so the norm never changes.”

Are you a fat talker? If so, really think about what you are doing to the dynamics of the group. Think about reflecting on the positive things to your girlfriends, rather than the negative and see where that takes you.

It's terrible when girls who are incredibly fit and healthy looking do this. It's like they need to be reassured that they are pretty and whatnot. It is incredibly irritating. I shoot them a look, and roll my eyes and give them a mini lecture about how annoying they're being, and tell them never to complain to me again. I don't put up with it.

fat talking gets to be so depressing. just today my sister was talking about how she doesn't feel thin enough when she is like 5'3" and 110 MAYBE 115 lbs max. so when she asked me how I felt about my body and I just told her "hey I'm 5'4" and 120 lbs and just like you, I have more muscle than fat so I feel no need to lose weight. also my body is the way it is.. I just accept my body for how it looks. as long as I am eating right and getting the proper amount of exercise, I'm fine."

I totally had this problem in high school. I was the athletic one out of my friends, who would constantly talk about their weight. They would not allow me to join the conversation, or else I would basically get shot down. Very frustrating for me. Now that I am out of college and gained a few pounds, I make it a point not to complain about my weight to friends (if I absolutely must, I save it for my fiance!)

jke: Perhaps if one continues to participate in "fat talking" one will eventually be driven to drink while wearing ugly turtlenecks.
We started a "Biggest Loser" club at work, but I feel it isn't working out as should. It becomes a forum for us to complain about our bodies rather than what is right.

I never talk about my body in front of people because if I do it makes them think I'm sick. It happened in the summer and I knew I was fine, as did my family and boyfriend, and really that is all that mattered, BUT it hurt that people didn't think that I could have achieved my goal healthfully. It still hurts, so I just don't talk about my body with people.
Unfortunately I cannot shut the voices in my head off....

So this picture doesn't win "Best Stock Photo" award, huh?
:)
My mom was really bad about this. My whole LIFE ...even when she was gorgeous and weighed 130 pounds, she always had something negative to say about her body. Now, my younger sister does the same thing. (My mom is being reformed, though...now when I talk to her it's "I lost another pound!")
I'm doing my best to break this cycle. When I was doing major dieting last year, I really think I set the wrong example at first...because my girl - who was five - said "I'm fat - I've got a fat belly!" It absolutely broke my heart. So, now we make sure we talk about being healthy - NOT being skinny.
I really hate when I get into groups and people drop the fishing line "I'm so fat." I don't feel like it's my place to console anyone about their weight or try to "talk them out of it." It just sets a negative vibe for the whole conversation. (That does NOT include talking about dieting, though..I'm all for supporting friends, just not trying to do the "Oh, you are NOT!" thing!)